Wendy Phumie Mbele, MD of Sompisi IT Solutions says:
Growing up in Khayelitsha, I was not readily exposed to the Internet; and terms such as Google were foreign to me.
It was only at varsity that I was introduced to Google. Because of this disadvantage, I even failed my first term End User Computer class.
Fortunately, I have recovered from that setback and I can joke about it now.
Fast-forward to 2016, I've blogged, socialised, studied, created a Web site, sold and bought stuff using a computer.
After a few years in IT, I have come to realise that if you not exposed earlier on to technology, trying to get to grips with it can be quite an intimidating experience.
I have met clients who are both keen to learn as much as possible and willing to embrace the new opportunities that technology brings to their businesses and others who are completely terrorised by technology.
Sadly, our education system and the lack of resources in most schools still produces computer illiterate individuals, however, I believe that technology needs to be the norm and not the privilege.
Technology is everywhere and in everything we do; shopping, banking, studying, socialisation and communication.
Yet our urban and rural school children continue to complete their secondary school levels without even an introduction to basic computing.
At a time when even university registrations and applications are done online, what does the future hold for these young people? What does it mean for small business owners who cannot reach beyond their immediate communities because of computer illiteracy?
Yet government agencies or departments have all these nice services like e-filling and e-learning. Most of us have seen and experienced what is possible through technology, but millions of young South Africans are still illiterate when it comes to technology.
It should be our responsibility to empower and equip young people with information and skills that have the ability to turn each of us into an entrepreneur.
Nelson Mandela once said "Education is the most powerful weapon one can use to change the world,"
Sompisi IT Solutions invites the departments of Education, Labour and Social Development to partner and support our initiative that strives to create long term employment goals for young people.
We also call on the industry giants and others to partner, engage and contribute in diversifying the skills in our currently technologically challenged communities.
We also invite other SME owners and employees within the ICT field to mentor, coach and transfer their skills and knowledge to equip these young people with practical experience.
This an invitation to young people looking for an opportunity to work, learn, teach or start a business in the field of computers and information technology.
Interested parties or individuals must be computer literate matriculants between 2012 and 2015 or unemployed graduates who studied IT.
They must live walking distance from a primary or high school. Must be willing to learn, be motivated and focused, creative and confident. E-mail: info@ sompisi-it.co.za
Share